Tinis: A prominent opponent of Tunisian President Kais Saied has accused him of "criminalising" all opposition after being detained for questioning in connection with claims of conspiracies against the government.
Saied was elected president in 2019 with a resounding victory, but he only took on broad authority in July 2021. The counterterrorism squad requested an interview with Ahmed Nejb Chebbi, the leader of the National Salvation Front, the main opposition coalition in Tunisia, as part of an investigation into allegations of a "plot against state security."
"Today, as you can see, all forms of opposition, all independent opinion... is considered a crime that could lead to jail," Chebbi told reporters before being questioned by detectives for three hours.
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"The prison is the place of free men in Kais Saied's Tunisia," (78) Chebbi
He further questioned the purpose of his questioning, asking, "What am I being punished for? Is it within the bounds of the law that I have the freedom to speak, think, and act as I please? After the investigation, Chebbi was free to depart.
However, since February, Tunisian police have detained more than 20 opponents of the government, including former cabinet members, union leaders, and media figures.
Rached Ghanouchi, the leader of the Ennahdha party, who was sentenced to one year in prison in May on terrorism-related charges, is one of the most well-known individuals detained.
Ahead of his April arrest, Ghannouchi, an 81-year-old former speaker of parliament, cautioned that efforts to repress political Islam and the left might spark "civil war."
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On Friday, Chebbi claimed Saied had "destroyed all institutions" and claimed he was not aiming for "the rights and freedoms of citizens."
Amnesty International denounced Chebbi's planned summons earlier this month for questioning "over unfounded accusations of conspiracy."
The proposal "is another step backward on human rights," it claimed.
